After a busy few weeks of working on our manifestos, poster making and speech writing in our campaign teams Ms. Hanbidge’s class held an election. This fell on the same day as our actual Presidential Election too which added to the excitement. A huge congratulations to all the candidates who gave eloquent speeches to both Fifth Classes. Congratulations to one of the boys, who was elected as class president after an exciting vote count!

In September Ms. Hanbidge’s class were busy learning all about the Normans in Ireland. We learned about their lives, weapons and the huge changes they brought to Ireland. As part of this topic we built some fabulous motte and baileys and stone castles. We also tried our hand at feasting like the Normans by making Norman gingerbread. It wasn’t quite as good as the gingerbread today. The recipe is here if anyone is feeling brave!

Yesterday we had our final visits from Garda Anne Marie and Garda Ivan. They’ve been into fifth class multiple times this year discussing internet safety, Halloween safety and crime investigation. For our last day we visited the station and the cells. Although they were bigger and more modern that expected, we do think we’ll avoid visiting again!!

To celebrate Bike Week Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and InSync Street Velodrome invited our class for a free session. We had great fun working with the cycling leaders as we raced around the track. Some of us even tried on the Cathaoirleach’s chain. Take at look at some photos!

We were very lucky in Fifth Class to have two visits over the last two weeks from Imagine Dundrum, a local historian, an urbanist and an architect. So exciting! We went on a walking tour of Dundrum and took part in a mapping workshop. Take a look at our budding city planners hard at work imaginging their future Dundrum.

5th Class had a fantastic day out on Causey Farm. The weather was brilliant and the pupils thoroughly enjoyed jumping into the bog! We also met some adorable puppies and other animals. Take a look at our photos!

In Ms. Hanbidge’s class we are learning about the Irish Famine. For independent homework over the last week the children produced famine ship reports and built their own ships. The criteria was that the boat needed to float, be made of recycled material and have a name. Here’s some pictures of the Duffy Dinghy, SS Potato, Shippy McShipface, The Death Ride, The Death Star and many more! Well done boys and girls!

In Ms. Hanbidge’s class we held a talent show recently. It was all organised by our resident class band “The Creeps” who had the idea, made the application forms, completed the running order, judged and even bought treats for the classes. They are excellent event planners. Well done to our fabulous gymnasts, magicians, dancers, actors, musicians and singers!

Both 5th classes hugely enjoyed learning more about Viking and Medieval Dublin on a recent trip to Dublinia.

We tried on some helmets and had a lot of fun looking at the exhibition! There was a trip on a Viking longboat, a visit to the docks to try buy some slaves and tested out their homes. After learning about their toilets we really appreciate our modern comforts! While exploring Norman Ireland we saw Dublin city being built, took a trip to a medieval fair and encountered the (rather disgusting) bubonic plague and its victims. We even saw a real skeleton uncovered by archaeologists.